Prototyping Fictions is a speculative design studio that merges future thinking methodologies with the imaginative realms of science fiction. Through a combination of critical readings, hands-on prototyping, and creative storytelling, students will materialize fictional scenarios (in both 2D and 3D) that critique, question, and propose alternate worlds.
This course encourages students to analyze ideas, images, systems, and processes of the future found in both written and visual forms of science fiction, fostering a critical understanding of how these narratives can inform and inspire design practices. Engaging with various science fiction sub-genres, including Solarpunk, Cli-fi, Biopunk, Cyberpunk, and post-apocalyptic narratives, the studio will explore the underlying themes and the visual-material language presented by each genre.
Critical readings from authors such as Anthony Dunne, Margaret Atwood, and Julian Bleecker will ground students in speculative and design fiction theory. The multi-media deliverables of this process driven studio will equip students of product and communication design to reflect on the ethical, social, and cultural implications of the futures they’ve envisioned.
